Calls for judicial review of Mayo planning decision
The planning authority overturned a Mayo County Council decision on the supermarket.
A letter has been sent to Mayo County Council and all councillors urging the local authority to examine a possible judicial review of a controversial planning decision.
An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanala) overruled the local authority’s decision to refuse planning for an Aldi supermarket in Swinford following an appeal by the German retail giant.
The proposed new store will be located in Newpark and will consist of 1,908 square metres of floor area and will be served by 112 car parking spaces. The site is near the existing Tesco outlet and the local Catholic Church.
There were a number of objections to the development, including local parish priest Dr Dermot Meehan and businessman and former Fine Gael councillor Joe Mellett.
Mr Mellett has written to the council requesting it to examine the recent decision.
“I’m not sure would a judicial review set a precedent for Mayo County Council but I believe that it’s something that should be examined,” he told the .
Mr Mellett said some within the community are opposed to the project and others support it. He said another cohort would like it to proceed but at an alternative location.
The former councillor said he welcomes any development that may bring prosperity to Swinford but he has concerns about the project and the An Coimisiún Pleanála decision.
“The inspector does not appear to have taken into account or ignores many of the issues raised by the observers and Mayo County Council especially relating to safety, increase in traffic volumes and does not at all take into account the effect that the development will have on the other facilities in the immediate area,” stated Mr Mellett.
“The inspector states that there is no statuary town development plan for Swinford. This is an amazing statement and if it were true then surely the entire application should be thrown out,” he added.
Mr Mellett said a condition imposed on the project that no deliveries can take place outside of opening hours and not before 7am or after 10pm is “a truly farcical and unenforceable condition”.
